Online Abuse
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/24/007208/K
Version Date: 18/12/2024
The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.
Data source :
Force crime recording system - Niche
Data Processing:
Qliksense - Occurrence - People Links (all)
Crimed date 01/01/2022 to 22/10/2024
All offence groups excluding non-notifiable
Person selected
Offender - Yes
Cyber dependent - Yes
Restricted crime excluded
Qliksense - Occurrence - People Links (all)
Crimed date 01/01/2022 to 22/10/2024
All offence groups excluding non-notifiable
Person selected
Offender - Yes
Cyber enabled - Yes
Restricted crime excluded
Please Note:
Cybercrime can come in two forms, Cyber-dependent and Cyber-enabled.
Cyber-dependent crime is committed when offences can only be committed via the use of a computer and/or networks. Offences include hacking, ransomware, phishing and DDOS attacks.
Cyber-dependent crime offences are generally offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
Cyber-enabled crimes are any other crimes that have been facilitated using digital technology.
These are traditional crimes, which can be increased in their scale or reach by use of computers, computer networks or other forms of information communications technology (ICT). Unlike cyber-dependent crimes, they can also be committed without the use of ICT. Offences include fraud, theft, sexual exploitation, bullying or stalking.
If an offender has been recorded for different offence types (HO Description), they will be counted for each in the tables below. Grand totals count the offender only once.
Data limitations:
During the week commencing 14th November 2022, Devon & Cornwall Police transitioned to a new Records Management System, Niche. The two cyber related flags are a feature of this new system. Numbers for 2022 will be low accordingly.
I would like to know how many individuals were reported for a case of online abuse in the years 2022,2023 and 2024 individually where the offence was committed by an individual under the age of 18 and those 18 and over. I would like this age breakdown provided separately.
Cyber dependent – Under 18’s
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Blackmail |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Exposure and Voyeurism |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Harassment |
2 |
7 |
10 |
|
Malicious Communications |
6 |
28 |
12 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
4 |
9 |
10 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Stalking |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Non Notifiable Offences |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
13 |
47 |
35 |
Cyber dependent – 18 and over
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Assault with Injury |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Assault without Injury |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Blackmail |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Controlling and Coercive Behaviour |
0 |
3 |
5 |
|
Exposure and Voyeurism |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Harassment |
6 |
81 |
62 |
|
Malicious Communications |
12 |
63 |
32 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
17 |
50 |
26 |
|
Other Miscellaneous Sexual Offences |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Other Offences against the State or Public Order |
4 |
45 |
31 |
|
Other Theft |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Perverting the Course of Justice |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Possession of Article with Blade or Point |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Possession of Controlled Drugs (excluding Cannabis) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Possession of Other Weapons |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
1 |
25 |
12 |
|
Stalking |
5 |
72 |
40 |
|
Threat or Possession with Intent to Commit Criminal Damage |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Threats to Kill |
1 |
1 |
6 |
|
Trafficking in Controlled Drugs |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Unnatural Sexual Offences |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Non Notifiable Offences |
5 |
3 |
4 |
|
Grand Total |
54 |
346 |
224 |
Cyber Enabled – Under 18s
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Blackmail |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Exposure and Voyeurism |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Harassment |
2 |
8 |
10 |
|
Malicious Communications |
21 |
32 |
12 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
6 |
9 |
10 |
|
Perverting the Course of Justice |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Stalking |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Non Notifiable Offences |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Sexual Assault on a Female Child under 13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Grand Total |
35 |
53 |
35 |
Cyber Enabled – 18 and over
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Assault with Injury |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Assault without Injury |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Blackmail |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Controlling and Coercive Behaviour |
0 |
3 |
5 |
|
Exposure and Voyeurism |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Harassment |
9 |
82 |
64 |
|
Malicious Communications |
15 |
64 |
32 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
25 |
53 |
26 |
|
Other Miscellaneous Sexual Offences |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Other Offences against the State or Public Order |
6 |
47 |
32 |
|
Other Theft |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Perverting the Course of Justice |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Possession of Article with Blade or Point |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Possession of Controlled Drugs (excluding Cannabis) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Possession of Other Weapons |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
5 |
25 |
11 |
|
Stalking |
8 |
72 |
40 |
|
Threat or Possession with Intent to Commit Criminal Damage |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Threats to Kill |
2 |
1 |
6 |
|
Trafficking in Controlled Drugs |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Non Notifiable Offences |
0 |
3 |
4 |
|
Cruelty to Children/Young Persons |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Disclosure, Obstruction, False or Misleading Statements etc |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Other Notifiable Offences |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Rape of a Female Child under 13 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sexual Assault on a Female aged 13 and over |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Grand Total |
78 |
354 |
227 |
I would also like to know the outcomes of the report - how many were charged - for both those offenders under the age of 18 and those 18 and over.
Cyber dependent – Under 18s
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2024 |
|
Malicious Communications |
0 |
2 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
0 |
1 |
|
Stalking |
1 |
0 |
|
Grand Total |
1 |
3 |
Cyber dependent – 18 and over
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Blackmail |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Controlling and Coercive Behaviour |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Exposure and Voyeurism |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Harassment |
4 |
42 |
31 |
|
Malicious Communications |
9 |
23 |
6 |
|
Non Notifiable Offences |
5 |
2 |
2 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
14 |
37 |
24 |
|
Other Offences against the State or Public Order |
3 |
35 |
25 |
|
Other Theft |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Perverting the Course of Justice |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Possession of Article with Blade or Point |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Possession of Other Weapons |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
1 |
21 |
9 |
|
Stalking |
4 |
44 |
25 |
|
Threat or Possession with Intent to Commit Criminal Damage |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Threats to Kill |
1 |
0 |
5 |
|
Trafficking in Controlled Drugs |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Unnatural Sexual Offences |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Grand Total |
42 |
202 |
130 |
Cyber enabled – Under 18s
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Malicious Communications |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Perverting the Course of Justice |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stalking |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Grand Total |
4 |
1 |
3 |
Cyber enabled – 18 and over
|
HO Description |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Blackmail |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Controlling and Coercive Behaviour |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Disclosure, Obstruction, False or Misleading Statements etc |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Exposure and Voyeurism |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Harassment |
7 |
42 |
32 |
|
Malicious Communications |
10 |
24 |
6 |
|
Non Notifiable Offences |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Obscene Publications etc |
18 |
40 |
24 |
|
Other Notifiable Offences |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Other Offences against the State or Public Order |
5 |
37 |
26 |
|
Other Theft |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Perverting the Course of Justice |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Possession of Article with Blade or Point |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Possession of Other Weapons |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear, Alarm or Distress |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Rape of a Female Child under 13 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
|
Sexual Assault on a Female aged 13 and over |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sexual Grooming |
3 |
21 |
8 |
|
Stalking |
6 |
44 |
25 |
|
Threat or Possession with Intent to Commit Criminal Damage |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Threats to Kill |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
Trafficking in Controlled Drugs |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
57 |
209 |
130 |
Online abuse defined as: death threats, cyber bullying, threats, sexual harassment, cyberstalking, emotional abuse, unsolicited sexual imagery and enticing violence or harm through online speech and comments.